Occupational irritant contact dermatitis and fungal infection in construction workers

We have examined 6 construction workers who developed chronic skin diseases on their hands over a period of 15 years (1970–1985). 4 developed a Trichophyton rubrum infection, and the other 2 an irritant contact dermatitis. All of them carried out jobs which caused traumatization of the skin, due to the presence of ethylene glycol and mineral oils during operation of pneumatic hammers in winter. They also suffered other types of skin trauma during their work. Construction workers may be at risk of developing an occupational skin disease involving fungal infection.     

Paradoxical preexcitation during cryoablation of a concealed parahisian accessory pathway

A 16‐year‐old male presented with an orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia over a concealed parahisian accessory pathway (AP). Cryoablation of the AP resulted in transient manifestation of a fully preexcited sinus rhythm of parahisian AP morphology. Potential causes for the paradoxical preexcitation include inadvertent atrioventricular nodal block, sourse‐sink mismatch, as well as the activation of a dormant AP capable of anterograde conduction.     

Safety and efficacy of lenvatinib by starting dose based on body weight in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in REFLECT

Journal of Gastroenterology - REFLECT was an open-label, phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib versus sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma...     

Current status of dilatation catheters and guiding systems

Both balloon catheters and guiding catheters for PTCA are high-quality instruments with an advanced degree of reliability and practicality. The standard set-up at Emory University consists of a steerable 3.0-mm balloon catheter and a Judkins-type guiding catheter.     

Pathogenesis of acute renal failure following temporary renal ischemia in the rat.

In this study, we characterized the sequence of several intrarenal events and evaluated their relative importance in the pathogenesis of unilateral oliguric acute renal failure induced experimentally in rats by complete occlusion of a renal artery for 1 hour. Kidneys were studied prior to occlusion and 1-3 hours and 22-26 hours after release of the temporary occlusion. Renal blood flow measured by an electromagnetic flow transducer was reduced to 40-50% of control during both postocclusion periods. Flow of tubular fluid was markedly reduced, and the damaged kidneys were oliguric. Proximal and distal convolutions were filled with fluid and dilated 1-3 hours after occlusion; their pressures were greatly heterogeneous and were elevated, on the average, to 31 and 16 mm Hg, respectively. Glomerular capillary pressure at this time was normal or slightly increased. Histological sections showed extensive tubular obstruction. We conclude that initially the oliguria is primarily due to intraluminal obstruction in the absence of predominant increases in preglomerular vascular resistance. Observations at 22-26 hours after occlusion indicated acute tubular necrosis. Moreover, the combined involvement of preglomerular vasoconstriction, presisting tubular obstruction, and passive backflow of tubular fluid appeared to be important in the maintenance of the oliguria. Glomerular capillary, proximal intratubular, and peritubular capillary hydrostatic pressures were reduced below control values. After acute volume expansion, the reduced pressures and renal blood flow were reversed, yet the experimental kidneys remained oliguric. Thus, it is clear that tubular obstruction is a significant factor responsible for both the genesis and the maintenance of oliguria in this experimental model of ischemia-induced acute renal failure.     

P300, Disinhibited Personality, and Early-Onset Alcohol Problems

BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that a reduced P300 amplitude of the event-related potential is associated with a vulnerability to alcoholism. This study tested the hypothesis that reductions in the P300 amplitude would be associated with specific dimensions of disinhibited personality (social deviance proneness and impulsivity) and that these personality traits would mediate the association between P300 and alcohol problems in a young adult sample that varied widely in disinhibitory traits. METHODS: Alcohol problems, personality (impulsivity, social deviance, harm avoidance, and excitement seeking), and event-related potentials were measured in a sample of 190 subjects (87 men, 103 women) with a mean age of 20.7 +/- 1.9 years. RESULTS: Social deviance, impulsivity, and alcohol problems were associated with reductions in the P300, but only in male subjects. A structural model suggested that social deviance, impulsivity, and alcohol problems were all strongly related to P300 amplitude at Fz. Further analyses indicated that for male subjects, social deviance mediated the association between P300 at Fz and alcohol problems as well as the association between impulsivity and alcohol problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that reduced P300s are strongly associated with a general tendency toward antisocial, defiant, and impulsive traits, which might, in turn, increase the risk for alcohol abuse. The lack of an association between reduced P300s and personality or alcohol problems in women was unexpected and deserves further study.     

Eating one's words,Part II: the embodied mind and reflective function in anorexia nervosa—theory

Anorexia nervosa as a psychiatric disorder presents itself through the concreteness of symptoms. Emotions are experienced as a corporeality here‐and‐now. In a companion article, Part I, different ‘body metaphors’ are described and categorised. The human body functions as metaphor, and in anorexia nervosa there is a striking closeness between emotions and different bodily experiences. This is interpreted as impaired ‘reflective function’, referring to the capacity to make mental representations, and is proposed as a central psychopathological feature. The psychodynamic concepts ‘concretised metaphors’ and ‘psychic equivalence’ are discussed as useful tools to better understand such compromised symbolic capacity. Psychotherapy in anorexia nervosa can be described as a relational process where concretised metaphors will be developed into genuine linguistic ones. Part III in this series of articles presents an outline for psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.